Marmolejo Pretrial Hearing: Ex-Girlfriends Testify Marmolejo Abused Them

Two of David Marmolejo’s ex-girlfriends, including stepsister Mariah Wilson, took the stand Friday and testified that Marmolejo repeatedly threatened to kill them and choked them with belts.

Marmolejo has been charged with murder in the strangling death of his mother, Gloria Marmolejo. Prosecutors accused him of then dumping her body in the Santa Teresa desert. His trial in October ended with a hung jury. Friday’s hearing was in preparation for Marmolejo’s retrial set for March 7 in San Antonio.

Wilson, who was granted full immunity in exchange for her testimony, told the court that Marmolejo beat her. Her testimony revolved around a confrontation in July 2009, just weeks before Gloria Marmolejo was found murdered. Wilson claimed that a violent fight ensued after she refused to let him borrow her cell phone. She testified that the fight began in the garage.

“He started pounding my head against the floor, so I pulled at his necklace and it broke,” Wilson said.

Wilson said she cut her fingers when she grabbed for his necklace. During the trial, El Paso police officers testified that her blood was found in the garage and in other areas of the home, but it was never explained how it got there.

Wilson said the fight continued inside the house and eventually inside the master bedroom.

“We started scuffling outside the bathroom,” Wilson said. “He threw my head so hard against the wall that there was a dent in it. We covered it with a frame.”

During the trial, Marmolejo’s brother testified that he believed the hole in the wall was caused when David Marmolejo punched it after getting upset about his mother’s death.

Wilson said Marmolejo ended up removing his belt and choking her.

“He wrapping it around my neck and then threw it over the door and started pulling it from the other side of the door,” Wilson said.

Wilson said she used the door hinge to gain leverage to avoid strangulation before she eventually passed out.

“When I woke up on the floor, I saw that I had peed on myself,” Wilson said. “He said I was lucky I didn’t (defecate) on myself.”

Wilson testified that Marmolejo then pulled her into the bathroom where the beating continued.

“He’s palming my head, slamming it against the shower tile,” Wilson said. “He wrapped the clear shower curtain around my head and then put the gun against my head, he said that way there would be no mess.”

Wilson said that she was fading in and out of consciousness, but that at one point during the night she ended up on the floor naked, tied up with auxillary cable cords.

When defense attorney Greg Anderson cross-examined Wilson, she repeatedly broke down in tears and lashed out at Anderson.

“You’re laughing at me. I’m so glad you think this is so funny,” Wilson said sarcastically. “You’re such a great lawyer. You’re being a smart (aleck).”

Another one of Marmolejo’s ex-girlfriend’s, Caylee Orsinger, also took the stand and said that Marmolejo also beat her and threatened to kill her and take her body to Mexico. J udge Gonzalo Garcia has until the start of the trial to decide whether to permit this testimony. Marmolejo’s next hearing is set for next Thursday.